Hired killers eyed in mayor’s slay

KORONADAL CITY — Police tagged a gun-for-hire syndicate in the killing of the mayor of Maitum, the capital town of Sarangani, the other day.

Senior Superintendent Efren Valeriano, Sarangani police director, said the manner by which Maitum Mayor George Yabes was killed seemed to be that of "professional hired killers."

Valeriano told The STAR that the killing was swift and Yabes’ assassins made sure that he was dead.

Three men on board an unlicensed red Yamaha motorcycle gunned down Yabes, 58, in front of the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative office in the Maitum town proper at about 1 p.m. Saturday.

Valeriano said Yabes was driving his owner-type jeep when one of the three men shot him with a caliber .45 pistol.

He said Yabes suffered only a single gunshot wound (not three as earlier reported) in the back of his left ear, killing him on the spot.

Asked if politics could have something to do with the mayor’s gunslaying, Valeriano said, "That remains to be seen." He added though that all angles were being explored.

Under Yabes’ leadership, Maitum gained national prominence because of his effective pro-children and anti-poverty programs.

Maitum was cited as the country’s most child-friendly municipality, with knowledge centers for children in all its 19 barangays.

The United Nations and Gawad Galing Pook also recognized Yabes for his efforts in successfully addressing poverty in Maitum.